Hi everyone, As I am having trouble with my contact email please email me at robplato@gmail.com for now or phone my cell at 250-551-5115 thanks and happy hollidays !

I opened up my cases containing camera equipment and film for the Cuban customs official. "Are you organized?" he asked. "Not really" I replied. Not even a faint smile graced his lips but the negative response was enough to curb any suspicion and I was motioned towards the luggage retrieval area. I looked around wondering where I might find my big cardboard box with my bike which would be my main made of transport for the next two months. All things collected and with some money changed to Cuban Convertible Pesos or "Cuc" for short I prepared myself for the inevitable on-slot of Cab drivers and touts a traveler will usually find outside an airport in undeveloped countries. I found it was not as bad as I expected. Waiting out front of the airport were buses or taxis to transfer you to your hotel in Veradero. The first thing you'll notice is that bus and taxi rates are not far off what they are in Canada. Cuba is not a cheap place to travel as most required services for tourists are state run and paid for in Cuc. This effort to separate the "tourist dollars" from local economy seems affective for the most part but as with any place local knowledge and experience will have it's effect on your budget. I took the taxi with my big box and gazed around at the first of my Cuban vistas.

Cuba is incredible ! I'm riding my bike around Cuba with a 4x5 field camera and two 35mm film cameras. I've got more camera gear than anything else. Getting my ski legs in shape that for sure. I'll write more when I have time you can contact me still via email at info@robplato.com. I'll be back in Fernie after Christamas.